Vt. lawmakers to consider compromise on childhood vaccinations

House-Senate conferees agreed Monday afternoon to a compromise over one of the year's most polarizing issues: whether to tighten requirements surrounding childhood vaccines and public schools.

Hundreds of parents have spoken out against rescinding the "philosophical exemption" now in state law. The provision allow them to 'opt out' of rules generally requiring a range of vaccines for all school-aged children.

(Eliminating exemptions for religious or medical reasons was never part of the proposal.)

But Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin opposed his own health department position, favoring instead a more libertarian approach that left intact a parent's right to choose, while requiring those utilize the philosophical exemption to receive ongoing information and education from a health provider.

The House concurred.

A compromise emerged Monday afternoon among the six members of the conference committee. (Senate President Pro-Tem John Campbell, D-Windsor, was the lone dissenting vote.)

The agreement "acknowledges there is a public health risk if rates of certain vaccines get below 90%," said Chen.

Should average statewide vaccinations for pertussis (whooping cough) or MMR dip below that 90 percent level, which Chen said is generally considered a threshold for community immunity, the Health Department could automatically rescind the philosophical exemption.

The agreement, he said, "also acknowledges that information and education is very important" and includes new "transparency provisions" allowing all Vermont parents to easily ascertain the percentage of children who are unprotected by vaccines in a given school.

Chen said he could live with the compromise which he called "a step forward."

The legislation much now pass both the House and Senate unchanged if it is to advance to the governor's desk for signature.

Health Care Committee chairman Michael Fisher, a Democrat from Lincoln, said he was pleased with the agreement which he expects will see action on the House floor on Wednesday.

Statehouse leaders said Monday they are still hopeful the Legislature will adjourn for the year by the weekend.

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